Saturday, May 10, 2014

BRICOLAGE RUG HOOKING, STUDIO TOUR PREPARATION

"Accepting Our Imperfections", 7" X 7" Lori LaBerge 2014

Bricolage in the art world is simply creating art from what you have on hand around you or using whatever materials are available. It is great for those who enjoy recycling and repurposing materials. I was thinking about this as I was cleaning out part of the garage storage area the other day. I looked down and saw this:

These were nails picked up after the construction workers finished the framing of the new studio. I never threw them away as I loved the character created from their imperfection. They had been nailed in incorrectly, pulled out and tossed to the side. This was when bricolage came to mind and I grabbed the nails to start a small work.

A small bin full of left over off-white wool was available. I decided on the off-whites as white is the color of perfection. Since the nails were anything but perfect, the scuffed and dirty look of the off-whites as compared to pure white would make a good background to place the nails on.

A scrap piece of linen was found. Jagged areas resembling shards were drawn onto the linen to resemble a shattered appearance. A frame was not used for hooking the piece. The linen was stretched onto an old handmade weaving loom from college that I had in storage. As only two sides of the linen were held in place, it was slightly wobbly to work on. The bent nails were placed throughout the piece as if they had fallen there, adding to the feeling of imperfection. The nails remind me of how we all take our knocks in life, adding to our character and growing through the process.

The Toe River Studio Tour takes place June 6-8. I've been busy in the studio and at the local gallery volunteering in preparation for the event. Two works for the gallery show being held before the tour were delivered yesterday. The exhibit runs from May 17-June 14.A variety of work including fiber, metal, clay, glass, wood, mixed-media and jewelry will be on display. If you are in the area you can make a weekend of it.Here's a photo of the TRAC Gallery in Spruce Pine, NC with some of the artwork delivered in preparation for the tour:

It will be amazing to see how different this space will look with artwork hanging on the walls and displayed on pedestals. A huge thank you to all the volunteers who make these shows happen.Look around you to see what items you can use to create your own bricolage work and have a great day.